The North American Securities Administrators Association is reminding investors not to allow recent negative economic news and stock market volatility to lead them into speculative investments, which may be nothing more than fraudulent schemes hiding behind today’s headlines.

“Scamsters follow the news and often prey on investors’ fear to promote bogus investments with promises of high return and little or no risk,” said NASAA president and North Dakota Securities Commissioner Karen Tyler.

Tyler said investors nearing retirement are particularly at risk of being targeted by investment schemes promising high returns to make up for losses in retirement accounts. “We are concerned that investors may allow uncertainty over current market conditions to lead them into fraudulent investment schemes that could weaken or devastate their financial position, potentially wiping out the retirement security they worked so hard to build. A hasty decision often can make a bad situation worse,” she said.

“Whether the markets are up or down, there are always those who will attempt to prey on the investing public,” Tyler said. “Investors should guard against high-pressure sales pitches for unregistered securities and non-traditional investments such as foreign currency, oil and gas investments, exotic financial products, or offers to send their money offshore to so-called ‘safe havens.’”

Tyler also noted that legitimate financial professionals generally do not recommend changes to investment portfolios based on short term economic news and market volatility. “Investors, especially those nearing or in retirement, should view with great skepticism any recommendation to liquidate a well structured, diversified investment portfolio to fund the purchase of an alternative investment product that may expose them to high commissions, high fees, excessive complexity, and undue risk,” she said.